An international city on the lake: the 140 m Jet d'Eau, an old town crowned by St Pierre Cathedral, the UN's Palais des Nations, the Red Cross Museum and CERN's free Science Gateway. Lake boats run to Lausanne, Montreux, Chillon Castle and the UNESCO Lavaux vineyard terraces; Chamonix–Mont Blanc in France and the cheese-and-chocolate village of Gruyères are easy day trips. Hotel guests ride public transport free. Very expensive. No direct flights — connect via Frankfurt or Istanbul. Mongolian citizens need a Schengen visa; Swiss visas are lodged in Beijing. Mongolia's Permanent Mission to the UN is in Geneva.
🛂 Visa: Visa required · 90 days✈ Flight: 13h☀ Best months: May, June, July, August
#lake#United Nations#Alps#chocolate and cheese#skiing#Schengen visa
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: May, June, July, August, September, December.
Things to see (12)
📍🧸 for kids
Jet d'Eau, lakefront and Flower Clock
CityFreeFountain usually runs daily from morning; lit until 22:30–23:00 in summer, shorter in winter; stops in hard frost or strong wind
The city's symbol — a fountain that throws water 140 m into the air. Walk out along the stone jetty right beside it (you may get wet!). In the nearby Jardin Anglais, the Flower Clock made of 6,500 flowers celebrates Geneva's watchmaking. The lakeside promenade, swans and yellow 'Mouettes' water taxis are a hit with children.
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goFrom Mongolia, Swiss visas are lodged in Beijing — the most time-consuming step, so plan early.+
1
Schengen visa: Swiss Embassy in Beijing
Mongolian citizens need a Schengen short-stay (C) visa. The Swiss consular agency in Ulaanbaatar closed on 31 July 2024, so residents of Mongolia apply to the Swiss Embassy in Beijing: book through VFS Global's Swiss China site, then attend in person in Beijing for fingerprints. The fee is the yuan equivalent of €90 (ages 6–11 €45, under 6 free) plus the VFS fee. Apply between 6 months and 15 days before travel; decisions usually take 15 days. The same visa covers day trips to Chamonix in France.
Tip: If you will spend most of your trip in France (Chamonix, Annecy, etc.) or another Schengen state, you may legitimately apply through that country's channel in UB — no trip to Beijing needed.
Medical insurance valid across Schengen, including repatriation, with at least €30,000 cover is mandatory. Add a return flight reservation, hotel bookings for the whole stay, 3 months of bank statements, an employer letter and a 35×40 mm colour photo. Your passport must be valid for more than 3 months after the visa ends and have 2 blank pages.
Palais des Nations guided-tour slots for the next month open on the 20th of each month and sell out fast; adults pay CHF 25. A valid passport is mandatory. CERN Science Gateway is free but needs registration, and guided tours and children's lab places are limited.
🛬Landing and getting to the cityGeneva Airport is very close to the centre — just minutes by train.+
1
By train to Cornavin station
Trains from the airport station reach Genève-Cornavin in 7 minutes, with up to 7 trains an hour at peak times. A Unireso zone 10 ticket costs CHF 3 (60 minutes) — buy it from the machine in the baggage reclaim hall, an SBB machine or the SBB app. The machine that used to hand out free tickets in the baggage hall was withdrawn at the end of 2021.
Every guest at a Geneva hotel, hostel or registered rental gets a free Geneva Transport Card: unlimited trams, buses, zone 10 trains (including the airport train) and the yellow 'Mouettes' water taxis for the whole stay. The digital card link arrives by email 3 days before arrival, so you can use it from the airport to your hotel — ask your hotel.
Tip: Connecting via Frankfurt, you enter Schengen and register in EES there, then arrive in Geneva as on a domestic flight. Don't exit into the airport's French sector by mistake — leave on the Swiss side.
Switzerland is not in the EU, so EU SIMs and some 'Europe' eSIMs may charge separate, expensive roaming in Switzerland. Always check that Switzerland (CH) is on the country list of travel eSIMs such as Airalo or Holafly. Geneva borders France, so you will also want French coverage for Chamonix.
Tip: Near the border your phone may switch to a French network automatically — you can pick the network manually in settings.
2
Swisscom tourist eSIM
Swisscom offers tourists a Prepaid Flat with unlimited data and calls for 7, 15, 30 or 90 days: order the eSIM online and activate it after landing in Switzerland. Physical SIMs are sold in Swisscom shops with your passport. Sunrise and Salt also sell prepaid SIMs.
🚇Getting around the city and the regionTrams, buses, local trains and the yellow 'Mouettes' water taxis all use one Unireso ticket. There are no gates but frequent inspections.+
1
Unireso tickets
A 60-minute Geneva zone 10 ticket is CHF 3, a 3-stop short hop CHF 2 and a day pass CHF 10 (CHF 8 from 9:00). If you are staying in a hotel, the Geneva Transport Card covers all of this. Buy tickets from machines or the SBB or tpg apps.
Frequent lakeside trains run from Cornavin to Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux; a Swiss Travel Pass covers both the trains and CGN lake boats. For single tickets, buy discounted 'Supersaver' fares early in the SBB app.
Buses and private shuttles run daily from Geneva to Chamonix, including directly from the airport. France uses the euro. The Aiguille du Midi cable car costs €60.20–83 return depending on the date — booking online early is cheaper.
The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), not the euro — though with France next door many places take euros and give change in francs at a poor rate. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, and the Twint app is widespread. Use euro cash or a card in Chamonix.
Tip: If an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in tögrög, say no — choose francs.
2
Prices are very high
A meal at an inexpensive restaurant is about CHF 25 per person, and a mid-range dinner for two about CHF 110. To save money, picnic by the lake on ready meals from Coop and Migros supermarkets. The city's fountain water is drinking water.
Foreign visitors who spend more than CHF 300 in one shop on one day can reclaim Switzerland's 8.1% VAT. Get an export form from the shop and have Swiss customs validate it at Geneva Airport before check-in. Goods bought in France are validated separately in the airport's French sector.
🍜FoodGeneva's food has a French accent — cheese, lake fish and chocolate.+
1
What to eat
Fondue moitié-moitié — fondue made with two cheeses; raclette — melted cheese over potatoes; filets de perche — pan-fried lake perch with fries; longeole — Geneva's spiced sausage. At the Escalade festival, people smash a chocolate 'marmite' cauldron. The old town is full of chocolate shops.
Tip: Service is included in restaurant prices; if you are happy, round the bill up a little.
2
Eating on a budget
Coop and Migros supermarkets, the cheap international eateries of the Pâquis district and the Bains des Pâquis café are the cheapest options. Take food and water up the mountains. Most shops close on Sundays, but those at Cornavin station and the airport stay open.
Police 117, fire 118, ambulance 144, poison control 145, European emergency number 112 — free, 24 hours. In France (Chamonix), call 112 or 15 for an ambulance.
Mind your bags and phone around Cornavin station, the Pâquis district, the lakefront and the airport, and don't leave your phone on restaurant tables. Some Pâquis streets are rough at night. In the mountains the weather changes fast, so bring warm layers and sunglasses.
3
Hospitals and Mongolia's mission
Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) have a 24-hour emergency department and a separate paediatric emergency unit. If you lose your passport, report it to the police and contact the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the UN Office and other international organisations in Geneva: Chemin des Mollies 4, 1293 Bellevue, tel. +41 22 774 19 74.
Say 'Bonjour' entering a shop or restaurant and 'Merci, au revoir' when leaving. A few words of French go a long way. The Swiss take punctuality very seriously.
2
Quiet and tidiness
Keeping noise down on Sundays and at night is the norm. Sort your rubbish; littering is fined. On trains, don't make calls in the quiet carriage or put your feet on the seats.
3
The UN and churches
Security at the Palais des Nations is airport-style — no knives or large bags. Don't sightsee in churches during services, and keep your voice down.
📱Useful apps+
1
Transport
SBB Mobile — nationwide timetables, tickets and the Swiss Travel Pass. tpg — real-time Geneva tram and bus info. CGN — lake boat timetables. Google Maps works well in the city.
MeteoSwiss — mountain weather and storm warnings; check the summit webcams for clear skies before heading to Chamonix or the mountains. Google Translate's camera translates French menus on the spot.
The train from Cornavin to the airport takes 7 minutes; the Geneva Transport Card is valid all day on your departure date, or buy a zone 10 ticket for CHF 3. If you connect to MIAT via Frankfurt, your Schengen EES exit check happens in Frankfurt — leave enough time for the connection.
Leave the Schengen area no later than the date on your visa — EES records your exit day automatically. Have Tax Free goods validated by Swiss customs at Geneva Airport before check-in — since Switzerland is outside the EU, this happens in Geneva, not Frankfurt.
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
Jun–Sep Mon–Fri 9:30–18:30, Sat 9:30–16:30; Oct–May Mon–Sat 10:00–17:30; Sundays afternoon only
A hilltop old town of cobbled lanes: climb 157 steps up the north and south towers of St Pierre Cathedral, where Calvin preached, for views of the lake, the Jet d'Eau and, on clear days, Mont Blanc. Under the cathedral, an archaeological site reveals 4th-century churches. Place du Bourg-de-Four and the Reformation Wall (Parc des Bastions) are close by.
CultureGuided tour CHF 25; ages 14–17 CHF 14; ages 6–13 CHF 13; under 6 free. Broken Chair freeGuided tours usually Mon–Fri; booking for the next month opens on the 20th
The UN's European headquarters: the Human Rights Room with Barceló's ceiling, the Assembly Hall and Ariana Park, where peacocks roam. The tour takes ~1 hour and covers 2 km on foot; bring a valid passport and arrive 30 minutes early for security. Slots sell out fast. Outside stands the 12 m Broken Chair with one snapped leg — a memorial against landmines. Mongolia's Permanent Mission to the UN is in Geneva.
CultureCHF 15; ages 12–22 CHF 10; under 12 freeTue–Sun 10:00–17:00, Thu until 20:00; closed Mondays
Across from the Palais des Nations. Interactive galleries tell the story of humanitarian action through three themes (defending human dignity, restoring family links, reducing natural risks); the WWI archive of 7 million prisoner cards is moving. Audio guide in many languages.
KidsFree (registration required)Tue–Sun 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed Mondays; closed 23 Dec 2026–5 Jan 2027
The Renzo Piano-designed visitor centre of the world's largest particle physics lab: interactive exhibitions on the Large Hadron Collider, the quantum world and the origins of the universe, science shows and lab workshops for children (age limits vary). About 25 minutes from the centre on tram 18. Book guided tours and lab places online early.
CultureCHF 10; students CHF 7; under 18 freeTue–Fri 14:00–18:00, Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 14:00–18:00; closed Mondays
Five centuries of Genevan watchmaking: European timepieces since the 16th century, enamelled pocket watches, automata and Patek Philippe's most complicated watches. A must for watch lovers. In Plainpalais, 15 minutes' walk from the old town.
RelaxSummer CHF 2; ages 6–15 CHF 1; under 5 freeBeach Jun–Aug 9:00–20:00, May and Sep 10:00–18:00; sauna and fondue in winter
A 1930s public bathing spot on a jetty: swim in the clear lake, with 3–10 m diving boards, a children's slide, a paddling pool and a sandpit. A cheap café looks out to the Jet d'Eau and Mont Blanc. In winter it's famous for its sauna, hammam and cheese fondue. Geneva's favourite hangout.
FoodFreeDaily; market Wednesday and Saturday mornings
A Mediterranean-style town built by the King of Sardinia in the 18th century: colourful houses, courtyard gardens, craft shops, independent watchmakers, cafés and restaurants. Geneva's most charming neighbourhood — ideal for dinner. 10–15 minutes from the centre by tram.
NatureCGN day pass 2nd class ~CHF 64; Lavaux walks free; wine tastings extraGeneva–Lausanne boats daily in summer; paddle steamers mostly Apr–Oct
A Belle Époque paddle steamer takes ~3.5 hours from Geneva to Lausanne-Ouchy (the train ~40 minutes). Lausanne has the Olympic Museum and an old-town cathedral. Between Lausanne and Vevey, the 800 ha of steep Lavaux vineyard terraces are UNESCO-listed: walk between the villages of Cully and Epesses above the lake and the Alps, or ride the Lavaux Express tourist train.
CultureCHF 15; ages 6–15 CHF 7; family (2 adults + 1–5 children) CHF 35Apr–Sep 9:00–19:00, Mar and Oct 9:30–18:00, Nov–Feb 10:00–17:00; closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan
Switzerland's most-visited medieval castle, built on a rock in the lake: dungeons, knights' halls and the pillar where Byron carved his name. Walk ~45 minutes from Montreux along the flower-lined lakeside path, or take bus 201 or a boat. Montreux has the Freddie Mercury statue and the July jazz festival. About 1 h 10 min from Geneva by train.
Chamonix–Mont Blanc and the Aiguille du Midi (France)
NatureAiguille du Midi return €60.20–83 (ages 5–14 €51.20–70.60, by date); under 5 freeMost of the year; closes in bad weather and for maintenance
The French Alps, about 1–1.5 hours from Geneva by bus. The cable car climbs to 3,842 m for close-up views of Mont Blanc (4,806 m), with the glass 'Step into the Void'. France is in Schengen, so your Swiss Schengen visa covers it — bring your passport. Move slowly at altitude; children under 3 are not advised to go up. In winter, ski at Chamonix or Verbier in Switzerland.
FoodMaison du Gruyère CHF 8 (family CHF 12); Maison Cailler CHF 17 (ages 6–15 CHF 7)Maison Cailler Apr–Oct 10:00–18:00, Nov–Mar 10:00–17:00; closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan
A small medieval town in the foothills: a castle, cobbled street and the Maison du Gruyère show dairy, where you watch Gruyère being made through glass. At Nestlé's Maison Cailler chocolate factory in nearby Broc, tastings are unlimited — children love it. About 2 hours from Geneva by train, or via Montreux on the GoldenPass line.
